Abstract
PURPOSE: Lean mass, fat mass, and bone mineral density are important determinants of health. The ability to change these values over time are important to overall wellness and also athletic success. The ability of athletes and non-athletes to change body composition over time are important for setting realistic expectations of change over time. METHODS: 815 college aged students (469) and student athletes (346 Division I athletes from a variety of sports) participated in this longitudinal tracking study (ht. 173.8 ± 6.2 cm, wt. 76.6 ± 29.24 kg, age 20.156 ± 1.73 years, Body fat % 24.06 ± 7.13%). After filling out informed consents and health history questionnaires students were scanned for total body composition utilizing a Dual Energy X-Ray Absorptiometry (DXA) scanner (Lunar Prodigy by GE). Regional and total fat mass, fat free mass, and bone mineral density values were analyzed for change relative to days between scans, results were multiplied by 28 for standardization/monthly projections. Athletes were compared to non-athletes by a one-way analysis of variance. RESULTS: Overall monthly changes for body fat percentage was 0.00 ± 0.59% with a 95% confidence interval (CI) of 1.18% to -1.20%. Lean mass monthly change was 0.083 ± 0.795 kg with a 95% CI of 1.67 to -1.51 kg. Fat mass monthly change was 0.001 ± .495 kg with a 95% CI of .99 to .988 kg. Finally, bone mineral density monthly change was -.0069 ± .1014 g/cm2 with a 95% CI of .196 to -.210 g/cm^2. Overall, monthly change mean differences for athletes compared to non-athletes were: lean mass 0.305 kg, fat mass 0.056 kg, body fat -0.002%, and bone mineral density -0.001 g/cm2. Athletes compared to non-athletes were on average 1.4 kg higher in lean mass, 4.5 kg lower fat mass*, and 4.5% lower in body fat percent*, and had .0445 g/cm^2 higher bone mineral density*. Where * was significant at P < .001. CONCLUSIONS: On average changes for body composition were small, but the confidence intervals were much larger. This was an observational study utilizing different testing frequency. More defined body composition change timeline expectations for athletes and non-athletes would be useful for coaches, trainers, and researchers.
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